Highlights this Week:
- 10 public hearings this week:
- Land Use: Four public hearings, including rezoning and special permit for six new, attached, single-family homes on River Street
- Public Facilities: Four public hearings, including Horace Mann School addition
- Community Preservation Committee: Public hearing on First Baptist Church Bell Tower Restoration
- Zoning Board of Appeals: Continued public hearing on Ch. 40B proposal for 16 units at 41 Washington Street
- City Council voting on borrowing $72.6 million for Franklin School, offset by possible MSBA grant
- Public Facilities voting on borrowing $31.6 million for Horace Mann School, offset by possible MSBA grant
- School Committee discussing 2024-25 school calendar
- Economic Development Commission hosting speaker on the needs of small business tenants
- Public Buildings holding a virtual community meeting on the Police Headquarters Fence Installation Project
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on (see Reports Docket):
- Approved in Committee:
- Alter and extend a nonconforming front setback and to exceed FAR at 3 Valley Spring Road
- Allow a retaining wall exceeding four feet in height at 6 Brush Hill Road
- Allow a free-standing sign at 1150-1152 Walnut Street
- Further extend nonconforming FAR at 124 Hunnewell Avenue
- Extension of Time to Exercise Special Permit at 386-394 Watertown Street
- Possible ordinance amendments relative to aiding small businesses impacted by development
- Appropriate $72,608,506 for the construction of the Franklin School Project
- National Grid petition for a Grant of Location for gas main across Centre Street bridge over I-90 and a tie-in at Richardson Street
- Schematic design and site plan approval to demolish and replace the existing Franklin School at 125 Derby Street
- President’s Reappointment of Michael Gevelber to the Newton Citizen’s Commission on Energy
- Voted No Action Necessary in committee:
- Discussion regarding on-demand transportation system (GoGo Newton)
The New Docket includes the following:
- Funding Requests and Authorizations
- Transfer $25,000 to the FY24 Health & Human Services Admin – Full Time Salaries
- Accept $190,000 from MassDOT’s Community Transit Grant Program FY24 for the City’s senior transportation program (GoGo Newton)
- Salary increase for City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council to $139,310
- Transfer $650,000 to the Fire Rescue Full Time Salaries
- Appropriate $31,578,632 for the construction of the Horace Mann Project, with general obligation borrowing and potential MSBA grants
- Appropriate $150,000 in CPA funding to create the Spears Park Community Garden
- Land Use Public Hearings on July 9, 2024
- Rezone two parcels at 329-331 River Street and 335 River Street from Single Residence 3 to Multi Residence 1
- Allow six attached single-family dwellings and reduced parking stall depth at 329-331 River Street and 335 River Street
- Exceed FAR and allow retaining walls exceeding four feet in height at 8 Everett Street
- Allow a garage exceeding 700 square feet at 102 Gordon Road
- Land Use Public Hearings on July 23, 2024
- Increase nonconforming FAR, extend nonconforming height, and allow oversized dormers at 62 Lenox Street
- Further extend nonconforming FAR at 29 Trowbridge Avenue
- Vertically extend nonconforming front setbacks at 224 Adams Avenue
- Allow a dormer exceeding 50% and with an uninterrupted wall plane at 44 Erie Avenue
- Alter/extend nonconforming side setback and further reduce nonconforming open space at 16 Braeland Avenue
- Public Facilities Public Hearings on July 10, 2024
- Verizon petition for a Grant of Location on Chase Street to relocate a utility pole
- Request for sewer extension at 949 Dedham Street
- Eversource petition for a Grant of Location for Commonwealth Avenue to support the MWRA project
- Proposed Amendments
- Possible amendments to Chapter 14 regarding senior services to rename the Department of Senior Services and merge the Advisory Board with the Council on Aging
- Appointments
- Ed Olhava to the Community Preservation Committee
- Timothy LeBlanc to the Newtonville Historic District Commission
- Nancy Greenberg to the Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission
- Nathan Persampieri to the Commission on Disability
- Reappointments
- Joan Belle Isle to the Council on Aging
- Barbara Lischinsky and Lucille Chansky to the Commission on Disability
- Jay Snyder to the Citizens Commission on Energy
Finance will meet on Monday to consider requests to:
- Transfer $650,000 from FY25 Reserve to the FY25 Fire/Rescue – Full Time Salaries
- Accept $190,000 from MassDOT’s Community Transit Grant Program for the City’s senior transportation program (GoGo Newton)
- Appropriate $72,608,506 for the construction of the Franklin School project and authorize general obligation borrowing of that amount (to be reduced by any grants received from the Massachusetts School Building Authority)
Public Safety and Transportation will meet jointly with Finance on Monday to consider the first item in the Finance agenda above.
Land Use will meet on Tuesday to consider requests to:
- Rezone 329-331 River Street and 335 River Street from Single Residence 3 to Multi Residence 1
- Raze the existing dwellings, combine the two lots, and construct six attached single-family dwellings in three separate buildings with parking dimensional waivers at 329-331 River Street and 335 River Street
- Raze the existing garage and construct a new attached garage and mudroom and 2.5 story rear addition, exceeding the maximum FAR, with retaining walls exceeding four feet at 8 Everett Street
- Remove a wall between two-car garage and workshop for additional garage space at 102 Gordon Road
- Establish an as-of-right accessory apartment within the carriage house and construct oversized dormers further extending the nonconforming FAR at 62 Lenox Street
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday to consider requests for:
- Increasing the salary of the City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council to $139,310
- An update on the City Seal redesign
- Appointing of Nathan Persampieri to the Commission on Disability
- Reappointing Joan Belle Isle to the Council on Aging, and Barbara Lischinsky and Lucille Chansky to the Commission on Disability
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday for:
- Public hearings:
- Relocating a jointly-owned pole to accommodate a new driveway on Chase Street
- Relocating existing City sewer main at 949 Dedham Street to allow for expansion of the dwelling at 27 Champa #1
- Installing 378 feet of conduit at Auburn Street and Evergreen Avenue to support the MWRA Tunnel Boring Machine project
- Construct a new 22,000 SF addition behind the existing gymnasium for the Horace Mann School Building Project
- Appropriate $31,578,632 for the construction of the Horace Mann project and authorize general obligation borrowing of that amount (to be reduced by any grants received from the Massachusetts School Building Authority)
- Drain extension in Edgefield Road starting from a new drain manhole in York Road
- Update from the Director of Sustainable Materials Management on recycling, Newton’s waste contracts, progress on composting, and other essential aspects of waste management
- Reappointment of Jay Snyder to the Citizens Commission on Energy
Schools
The Negotiations Subcommittee will meet in Executive Session on Tuesday to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the Newton Teachers Association.
The School Committee will meet in Executive Session on Tuesday (virtually, not in person) to discuss a complaint against an employee, conduct strategy sessions for negotiations with non-union personnel, and discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the Newton Teachers Association.
The School Committee will then move into public meeting to discuss:
- Memoranda of Understanding w/NTA regarding stipends for building moves and school/work year
- Contract negotiations with non-union personnel: Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education, and Assistant Superintendent/Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
- 2024-25 School Calendar
Boards and Commissions
Commission on Disability will meet on Monday to discuss:
- CDBG Access Projects Report
- Accessible Fines Reports
- Residential Accessible Parking Petition
- Housing for People with Disabilities
- GoGo Newton Transportation
- MAAB Variance 191 Adams Street
- July 17 Disability Pride Event
Conservation Commission will meet on Monday to consider:
- Notices of Intent:
- Second-story addition at 58 Selwyn Road
- Landscape renovation at 284 Franklin Street
- New single-family home plus driveway and utilities at 0 Irwin Road
- Completion of 5-lot subdivision and road at 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 Farwell Circle
- New cart barn and members building at 483 Dedham Street
- Albemarle Park fields and courts at 250 Albemarle Road
- SFH and landscape renovation at 107 Andrew Street
- Determinations of Applicability:
- City Floodplain line shown on the plans at 51 Oak Avenue
- Small addition at 28 Grayson Lane
- Certificates of Compliance:
- Landscape renovation at 96 Lake Avenue
- New single family home construction at 33 Greenwood Street
- Addition, deck, patio, landscaping at 78 Fessenden Street
- Updates/Discussion: Wetlands, Conservation Areas, Administrative Matters, Issues Around Town
- Public Comment
Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday to consider:
- Midcentury Architectural Survey Pre-proposal Meeting
- Public Hearing for First Baptist Church Bell Tower Restoration
- Review of Existing and Potential Future Projects
- Review of Current Finances
Economic Development Commission will meet on Tuesday to hear guest speaker Jesse Baerkahn, president of retail advisory firm Graffito SP on the needs of small business tenants and the challenges of commercial real estate.
Planning and Development Board will meet jointly with the Land Use Committee on Tuesday to consider rezoning 329-331 River Street and 335 River Street from Single Residence 3 to Multi Residence 1.
Newton Fair Housing Committee will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance
- Fair Housing Training Plans
- Resident Experience Training
- Fair Housing Resource List
- Fair Housing Project Reviews
- Subcommittee Updates
- Fair Housing Committee Priorities
Urban Design Commission will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Sign Permits: 74-78 Langley Road (Luxury Realty Partners) and 303 Walnut Street (Bank of America)
- Fence Appeal: 36 Swallow Drive
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Thursday to conduct a continued public hearing on a Ch. 40B proposal for a 16-unit residential development at 41 Washington Street, including four affordable units.
Newton Highlands Area Council will meet on Thursday to consider Village Day results, the Village Enhancement Project, parking, and website improvements.
Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Certificates of Appropriateness to replace the front door at 12 Shawmut Park and to remediate violation for work done to expand the rear deck at 18 Cliff Road
- Requests for feedback on proposed renovation and addition at 981 Chestnut Street and proposed renovation, addition of dormers, carport and parking, and driveway and site changes at 44 Oak Street
Other
The Public Buildings Department will host a virtual community meeting about the Police Headquarters Fence Installation Project on Tuesday, July 9, at 6PM (Zoom link).
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.